Thursday, March 27, 2008

Can We Pray For Our Muslim Enemies?

Posted by
Adam Parker

The following is a short film about the Quran from a conservative Dutch filmmaker. Apparently this is a big deal that we can even see this, because he could find no one in Holland who would broadcast it, and it took him sometime to even find a website who would host the video.

These are our enemies. They are enemies of our Savior and enemies of the cross. After watching this video, I want you all to think about something very difficult: what does it mean to love our enemies? Can we bring ourselves to love people who hate us so much?

[Warning: The video has some disturbing images, and an even more disturbing ideology.]

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:45). The calling to be a Christian is the calling to rise above the methods and hatred of our enemies. The message of Islam is in direct contrast to the content (i.e. grace) and the method of spreading (i.e. peace/love) the Gospel.

[As you can now see, Liveleak was pressured by threats and intimidation to remove this important example of free speech from the internet. Truly, we now live in a world where people cannot say what they feel in a public forum. Part of respecting the opinions of others is honoring their right to be heard, even when you disagree. Silencing them through threats of violence is no victory at all, because no hearts or minds have been changed. I am proud to belong to a religion which believes in causing change through affecting the heart and mind through arguments and persuasion; not through threats of violence.]

Yes, and not only pray but love. In the post it is said of them they are our enemies, enemies of Jesus, and of the cross. I contend that they are not enemies, but rather fellow travelers. Their actions are no less deplorable than that of people who bomb abortion clinics, walk in to churches and shoot doctors, or make war in the name of "freedom", "democracy", or even the Christian God. The followers of Islam who perpetuate this "holy" war are a radical segment of the population. In Western Christianity we have our own brand of radical fundamentalists. And they are no less despicable. Are these acts evil? Certainly. Does that the make the perpetrators evil as well? Let's be a little more guarded in our use of that term in assigning it to individuals. As we believe, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." For some of us that falling is comparatively small (a white lie) for others, our fallings have landed us in prison, some even on death row.

Should we pray for the radical fundamentalist Muslims? Yes, just as we should pray for our own fundamentalist crazies (not all fundamentalists are crazies, mind you). But more than pray, we should meet their violence with peace, their hate with love, and their animosity with kindness.